​​Grand Highlander Impresses​

The SUV market is filled with many good-to-great options for buyers these days, with Toyota making some of the most reliable and usable models. One such model is the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander, which offers customers everything that already made the Highlander a great SUV but with a little something extra. That something extra is size.  

A Review by TorqueNews.com 

TorqueNews.com recently got behind the wheel of the Grand Highlander Hybrid Max for a week and fell in love with not just the added size, but especially the way it drove better than the writer expected it to.  

Grand Highlander Size Comparison 

The Grand Highlander is four inches longer overall than the standard Highlander. Toyota didn’t just add some inches and call it a day, though. No, the Grand Highlander is larger overall with an extra 3.9 inches in wheelbase length, 2.3 inches wider, and 2 inches taller. Customers love the 20.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, which is nearly five cubic feet more than the Highlander. Third-row passengers also appreciate the 1.1 inches of additional headroom and 5.5 inches of added legroom. 

Big Doesn’t Mean Bad to Drive 

“To look at it, you’d think it would be cumbersome, hard to park, and big just for the sake of it. But it’s none of those things. It drives quite nicely, I found it very easy to park, and the bigness is done so well that you have to just admire the packaging and say, “whelp, it’s a great job.” 

Trim Levels and Engine Choices 

Toyota offers the Grand Highlander with front-wheel drive as standard and all-wheel drive as an option. Buyers can choose from four trim levels: LE, XLE, Limited, and Platinum. Then there are three engine options: a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gas engine that puts out 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, or a 2.5-liter Hybrid 4-cylinder that delivers 245 combined horsepower. When choosing the top-of-the-line, all-wheel drive-only Hybrid MAX, customers get a 2.4-liter turbo Hybrid 4-cylinder with a combined 362 horses and 400 lb-ft of torque available from just 2,000 rpm. Conventional gas models have an 8-speed automatic, with the Hybrid getting an ECVT, and the Hybrid Max using a Direct Shift 6-speed auto. 

Standard Features 

No matter which trim level you choose, each comes standard with a bright and vivid 12.3-inch touchscreen display that features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 7-inch digital gauge cluster is also standard, or a 12.3-inch cluster is available when purchasing the Limited grade or higher. 

The Biggest Surprise 

“The biggest surprise of all is the Hybrid Max powertrain … 332 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 RPMs is ideal for a vehicle in this segment. Couple that with 26 MPG and you have both strength and efficiency in one package. And this one can use regular fuel. That makes the Hybrid Max an 11-cent-per-mile vehicle in my area of Metro Boston. Amazing for a large 3-row SUV.” 

Grand Safety 

While Toyota vehicles are well known for their reliability, they are also appreciated for their excellent safety features, and the Grand Highlander doesn’t disappoint with some of the best standard safety features on the market. Each Grand Highlander has Toyota Safety Sense generation 3.0 as standard. TSS 3.0 includes Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Automatic High Beams, Lane Tracing Assist, Road Sign Assist, Proactive Driving Assist, and more. 

Stop By Sharp Automotive to Find the Right SUV For You 

To see and understand the differences between the Highlander and Grand Highlander, come down to Sharp Automotive and talk to one of our salespeople. Who knows, maybe the Grand Highlander is a bit too large of a vehicle for your needs, so the Highlander and RAV4 may be a better fit. The expert staff at Sharp Automotive will help you figure out the right model for your budget and needs.  

Why Choose Sharp Automotive 

At Sharp Automotive, we offer our customers some of the best prices and services around. With dozens of new and used vehicles to choose from, our excellent sales team and finance department will work hard to make sure you drive away happy. Our fantastic service department will take care of your new-to-you vehicle as if it were their own. 

We look forward to serving you soon.